Sunderland’s win proves it’s marathon not sprint – and O’Neill has Midas touch

1922

When Ji Dong-won scored his dramatic injury time winner against Manchester City it brought joy for everyone except followers of Roberto Mancini’s men – and confirmed just what I have been saying all weekend.

The Premier League title race is a marathon not a sprint and you have to earn the right to be champions by working hard all season. There are no prizes for leading at the half-way mark and anything can happen between now and May.

Whether or not Ji’s winner was off-side the reality is City were beaten and now have 48 hours to recover and face resurgent Liverpool. The pressure is back on the Blues – and their aura of invincibility is falling apart.

But you’ve also got to hand it to Martin O’Neill. The guy is a born winner. Bottom three when he took over at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland have won 10 points out of 15 under O’Neill. Now that’s quality.

– BY JOHN GUBBA

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